How to Make a Child's Room Safe So They Can Explore and Grow

Home is a sanctuary for you and your family, and your child's room should be a safe space for them. Designing your child's bedroom with unique and carefully crafted decor helps create a special space for your little one while giving you peace of mind. With thoughtfully chosen products, you can make a room everyone will feel excited to spend time in.

Age-Appropriate Beds

Children's rooms are used for more than sleeping, but your child will spend a great deal of time resting in their bed. Choosing a crib or bed that feels secure can give you both a good night's sleep.
For young children transitioning from a crib to their own bed, a convertible crib or a toddler bed with security rails is essential. Many of our toddler beds pair calming colors and sturdy builds that can ease the transition to a big kid bed. We’re particularly fond of Oeuf’s 2022 Classic Toddler Bed, offering a safe, sleek design.

Bunk beds are another great choice for siblings, giving them the chance to sleep near each other.

Calming Colors

Like any other room in the house, a color scheme defines a kid's room. Painting with soothing shades, muted hues, or colors your child loves can make their bedroom design perfect for playtime and bedtime. 

Pastel blues, light greens, muted purples and pinks, and soft whites all offer tranquility and safety. You can also go with a patterned wallpaper like this favorite safari print from Ferm Living:

Play Nooks

A secret reading nook, hiding space, or pretend play toy gives your child a place they can use to take some quiet time or enjoy imaginative play, allowing them to feel protected in their bedroom. Play tents are one of the best and most space-saving options that offer your child an area to play and feel snug. You can read more ab

Comfortable Rugs

Little ones will take tumbles, and the best way to prevent more tears is to lay a soft, cushioned rug on the floor. Floor coverings are especially useful in nurseries with hardwood or tile to give children floor space to comfortably play with legos, explore their bookcase, or cuddle with a favorite stuffed animal. Try a colorful option like this Monstera leaf-shaped rug from Lorena Canals, perfect for your nature lover.

Artful Lighting

There are a million and one ways to incorporate calming lighting into your bedroom ideas. From nightlights that make your bedtime routine less stressful to overhead lighting that helps your little one wake up in the morning, adding extra light can make a room feel secure for you and your child.

Unique Décor

Making your child's bedroom safe isn't just about baby proofing. It's also about developing an interior design that matches their personality. Including art like mobiles, wall art, and home décor that fits their interests is a thoughtful way to ensure your child feels safe and at home in their own room.

Cozy Chairs

Adding a comfortable chair for you to use during read-alouds, cuddles before bed, or visits during playtime reminds your child that you're always nearby. Rockers like our Babyletto Kiwi Electronic Recliner let you spend time in your child's room without needing to crouch on the floor. 

A relaxing chair also gives other family members a place to come play or read with your little one. As their love of reading develops, older children can even enjoy the chair as their own reading nook.

Creative Toys

When your child's bedroom also doubles as a place for play, including opportunities for creativity is essential. Whether it's a chalkboard for drawing, a tub of clay for modeling, or a box of dress-ups, giving your child the chance to express themselves can make their room feel even safer.

Furnish Your Child's Room with Natural, Sustainable Products

A Buying Guide for Picking the Right Stroller

Learn what to do when picking a baby stroller for your little one’s first year and beyond. Our buying guide goes over common stroller types and add-ons.

A baby stroller is perhaps the most substantial piece of baby gear that will be purchased for your child. There are many considerations to take into account when choosing the perfect stroller. First, you need to consider where you live and what types of daily activities you will be participating in. For instance, do you like to go on mini-weekend adventures and travel? Do you need something that is easy to open and close during your endless daily errands? Your activities play a big part in determining the type of stroller you should choose for your little one.

Stroller Features

If you are a new parent, it is easy to underestimate the value of a light weight, easy to fold baby stroller. If this is your first time buying a stroller, don’t be afraid to pick one that exceeds your basic expectations of what a stroller should do. Simping on features will, inevitably, lead to regret. Here are a few features we recommend you look for.

Adaptability

An adjustable handlebar that can lengthen for your comfort or one-hand fold functionality that allows you to break the stroller down while holding a diaper bag and/or a squirming baby will help you adapt to the inevitable unforseen situations you will find yourself in.

Storage Space

A stroller with a storage basket can be a lifesaver, especially for long outings like spending the day at an event or a theme park. You’ll be surprised at how handy storage can be. We use our stroller to pack blankets, food, toys, and dozens of other things. Most of the time, it’s much easier to let the stroller do the heavy lifting than to add a backpack or shoulder bag.

Bells & Whistles

Not every feature will be useful to you as a parent. Then again, if you’re a first-time parent, it can be tough to know which add-ons you’ll need. Cup holders are fairly universal. Freeing up a hand is always helpful when caring for little ones. Another fairly common feature is a canopy that acts as a sunshade in the heat or a rain cover in the event of inclement weather.

Types of Strollers

There are several different stroller types out there, and it’s unlikely you’ll have the opportunity to borrow a niece or nephew and test drive them all before day one. However, if you take a close look at your current lifestyle, you may have an idea of what your stroller needs might be for your first year and beyond!

Full-Size Stroller

A full-size stroller covers all the basics. They will typically have a stronger frame, swivel wheels for maneuverability, a footrest for you, and a reclining seat for the baby. These strollers tend to have larger wheels to handle rough terrain like dirt trails or sandy playgrounds and may even feature shock-absorbing for uneven terrain. This can help to reduce the chance of waking a sleeping baby when going over a curb.

Lightweight Strollers

Even if this is not the kind of stroller you want to use as your primary stroller, having an extra lightweight travel stroller or umbrella stroller, is usually a good idea. These lightweight strollers, not much more than a stroller frame and canvas seat, fold down to a manageable size, ideal for public transportation or an overpacked car. The tradeoff for these strollers is that they have minimal features, can only be used on hard smooth surfaces, and have a lower weight limit.

Jogging Strollers

Do you want to take your baby on regular runs around your neighborhood? If so, a jogging stroller might be a good choice. A jogger usually has a single front wheel, hand brake, air-filled tires, safety harness, and a suspension system to ensure a smooth ride for you and your baby.

Travel Systems

A travel system is more than just a single stroller. Rather, as the name suggests, it’s a combo system that not only grows with your baby’s rolling needs but also their car seat needs. A high-quality travel system will include an infant car seat, complete with a five-point harness, that functions as a bassinet style car seat carrier. The bassinet can be clipped into a car seat adapter or attached to the stroller frame.

Double Strollers

When you think about double strollers, you may be picturing side-by-side stroller seats holding twins. While this may be true of basic models, the best double strollers have the seating in tandem (one in front and the other behind), and can accommodate both your new baby and an older child. Many of them are convertible strollers with a range of options like having an infant carrier on the front and a seat with a platform that a toddler can climb in and out of as the mood strikes them.

Choosing the Right Baby Stroller is a Breeze with fawn & forest

Whether you are looking for something lightweight, something that can withstand high-intensity activity, or extra room for your growing family, we’ve taken every need into consideration in order to offer you the broadest range of safe, quality strollers to meet your needs.

We have carefully chosen our collection of strollers to meet your needs, provide ultimate versatility and take precedence in overall safety with a collection of accessories to make life easier.

If you are in search of the perfect baby stroller but aren’t sure where to begin, contact us anytime. Our team of dedicated customer service representatives is here to answer all your questions, helping you make the decision that best suits your needs and ensuring your purchase will exceed all your needs and expectations.

As the holidays approach, you most likely have a list of “littles” that you are going to need to purchase gifts for. When it comes to toys for children, there is no shortage of available choices on the market. The problem that arises when there are so many choices is that there are simply so many choices out there that present health risks for children.

Even with extra government regulation and child safety standards, the regulations that do exist lack the level of protection that ensure all toys are safe for all children. So how do you find a great children’s gift the child will love, while at the same time ensuring that they are made of natural materials, safe for them to use and something their parents won’t be concerned about them playing with? Look at our line of Heritage Holiday Gifts.

Our curated line of holiday gifts has something for everyone. Whether you are shopping for an infant or a toddler that is mobile, curious and actively exploring everything the world has to offer, we have something for everyone’s life stage and interest that is sure to be a memorable gift they’ll love.

These gifts promote the healthy development of children, stoke the fires of imagination and make-believe and give peace of mind to the discerning parent as each item is crafted, with love, from the most responsible and safest materials on the market.

Fawn&Forest believes in the value of family, the beauty of nature, and the wholesome joy that can be found in simple living. This list of holiday gifts is another example of our commitment to these values. If you are looking for the perfect holiday gift but aren’t sure where to begin your search, contact us anytime. Our team of dedicated customer service representatives is here to help you with anything you need.

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Unlike your bedroom, which is primarily used for sleeping, dressing, and relaxing, your children’s rooms are much more versatile. They serve not only as places to sleep and dress, but also places for creativity, imagination, learning, and active play. 

For pre-school-age children, a bedroom is a good spot for reading before bed and playing with toys after a nap. As children start school, their bedroom will become a more socially-oriented space as they begin to use their rooms as a place to play when they have playdates with their classmates.

The ideal kids’ room offers a safe environment with sturdy furniture and non-toxic materials. Laid out correctly, it will also cultivate play and learning experiences. Apart from furniture, your kid’s room should include plenty of educational items like books and games, as well as movable objects that a child can feel, stack, and manipulate. Items for creating art and music or playing pretend are also very enriching. All these things are valuable pieces in your child’s overall educational program. 

With this in mind, today we want to share with you a few creative kids’ room ideas you can use to morph your kid’s room to help inspire their imagination and development.

Install A Chalkboard

Installing a chalkboard or using a can of chalkboard wall paint is a quick and easy room upgrade that will be something your kid will use for many years. Any time the mood strikes, they can grab a piece of chalk and draw out whatever they are imagining on a blank canvas that is always there for them.

Create A Theme Bedroom

One of the greatest things about being a kid is learning about (and becoming obsessed) with so many new things. One great way to inspire your kid’s imagination and give them a stage to make-believe and really enjoy playing in their room is by designing their room in the theme of their current favorite thing.

Create A Fort In Their Room

One of the most amazing opportunities to inspire imagination in your kid is by giving them a fort in their room they can use to play in. Forts offer endless opportunities for playtime, allowing them to take ownership of the space and design it exactly the way they want. They will have countless opportunities to make-believe and imagine great play scenarios that will keep them engaged and entertained for hours on end.

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With the holidays upon us and kids getting holiday time off of school, it’s time to focus less on the day to day hustle and bustle of life and enjoy more time with our friends, family and loved ones. One of our favorite pastimes during this time of year is working on holiday-themed arts and crafts projects the entire family can participate in.

There are many fantastic decorations you can make to give your home a festive holiday look that utilize things in our natural `surroundings. Here are some of our favorites.

Pinecone Wreaths

Bring a little bit of the outdoors to your front door. Start by laying out the pinecones in around a wreath frame. Then, hot glue all of the pinecones to the frame, starting with the main circle. Continue to glue the pinecones around the entire frame. You may need to use a little wire and extra hot glue to secure a few pinecone tips that are hard to line up.                                                                      

Chalk Paint Ornaments

You and your kids can custom-make your own ornaments by painting them with chalk paint, then writing on them with chalk. You can doodle on a holiday design, or personalize them with your names and special dates (birthdays, anniversaries, and so on).

Cut some wood from your backyard into circles and then paint it with chalk paint. Once it dries, let your kids get to work on a holiday masterpiece. Hot glue a ribbon to it for a holder and you will be able to display your beautiful ornaments on your Christmas tree.

Twig Ornaments

This one is a super fun one to do with kids: Use twigs, glue, and embroidery thread or twine to make custom ornaments that are inspired by nature. The best part of this project is that even if you live in a city, you still have access to tons of great twigs you can use to make your decorations.

Pinecone Owls

Nothing is more festive than pinecones during the holidays. What better way to make your Christmas tree look more natural than with an owl that is sitting in the tree keeping watch? With a little felt and a pinecone, your kids can whip one a creative, festive-looking owl that will make your tree look fantastic.

Milk Carton Gingerbread Village

While most people recycle their milk cartons that they accumulate at home, why not upcycle them? Use your empty milk cartons to create the cutest gingerbread village ever. Once built, you can store it and re-use it year after year. Even better, you can expand it year after year, building an exciting, ever-growing Christmas village.

Get outside & enjoy the final days of Summer!

We're having an end of the Summer sale.
Use code GETOUTSIDE at checkout for 12% off.

Sale ends Monday, Sept 3rd at midnight PST.
*Restricted: Bumbleride, Monte, Stokke, Babyletto, Nursery Works, Naturepedic & Oeuf. 

The Benefits of Reading to Your Baby

Discover the benefits of reading aloud for your little one’s language development along with tips on what kinds of children's books encourage early literacy.  

One thing I am not minimal about is books! From the start, I have filled my children's lives with as many books as our budget would allow. From an early age, your little one can benefit from an adult taking the time to sit down and read aloud to them. But how early should you start reading to your baby, and what should you read to them? Read on to see what the experts say and for a few books we recommend for you and your baby.

Story Time & Baby's Development

There's a special connection that happens with our young children when we read out loud together. I have found it unnecessary to teach my children rote-style memorization of colors, numbers, or the alphabet. These basic elements come alive and become real in a tangible way when we read together, which inspires conversations and future adventures together.

Those aren't the only upsides, though. According to Nationwide Children's Hospital pediatricians, early literacy is integral to child development, encouraging language skills and helping your baby learn new words. Reading together is crucial for your child's language development, allowing them to go from baby babble to complete words and beyond to further milestones. In addition, the effort spent on story time gives them the reading skills they need for a headstart on kindergarten.

When Should I Start Reading to My Baby?

Even though your baby cannot grasp a book or sound out the letters of the alphabet, it is never too soon to introduce your little one to the magic of books. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), "reading, talking, and singing regularly with young children from birth stimulates brain development." So you should start reading to your baby right away in their first year! It's a great idea to make reading aloud together part of your daily routine. I've found that reading together can be the perfect way to wind down after playtime. Once the wiggles have been worked out, cuddle up in your nursery chair with your kiddo and snuggle together while you explore a new literary landscape.

Reading strengthens bonding time since reading a book together can signal safety, love, and an emotional connection. It can also help establish a regular bedtime routine. That benefits everyone!

Reading Tips

Are you worried that reading aloud is one more thing you must do as a sleep-deprived parent? Getting into a routine doesn't have to be time-consuming or complicated. Taking a moment to read has a host of benefits for you and your baby that we've already discussed, but it can also help your child increase their concentration and attention span. I can't imagine a caregiver out there who wouldn't appreciate that!

You might be wondering what kind of books are best for your baby and can last into toddlerhood. Babies respond more to bright, high-contrast colors and different textures when they get older. You'll also want sturdier books, like cloth books or board books, since older babies will love touching the book themselves (and probably chew on it, too). While there isn't much to read in these books, talking your baby through them is essential. For example, prompt them to feel the difference between a flap of denim and another of burlap or moo when they see a cow and oink when they see a pig.

As their literacy skills grow, you can share a greater variety of books, including nursery rhymes, simple poems, fairy tales, and more! So follow your child's interests and read them the stories they love.

Books We Recommend for Reading Time

Educator Charlotte Mason refers to reading books that beautifully express the world around us as living books, and I couldn't agree more! We now have a handful of favorite books in the shop from beloved authors such as Gerda Muller & Elsa Beskow. You can shop all of the BOOKS HERE. fawn&forest features infant baby books that will last from their first day to their first birthday and for years to come.

Photo by Jessica Rockowitz on Unsplash

Creating a Dress-Up Clothes Trunk for Your Toddler

Every child can benefit from dress-up and role-play. Read on for tips and suggestions for setting up a dress-up clothes storage trunk for your little one.

Whoever saw a child tired of seeing, of examining in his own way, unfamiliar things? This is the sort of mental nourishment for which he has an unbounded appetite, because it is that food of the mind on which, for the present, he is meant to grow — Charlotte Mason

There’s something so magical about watching a child develop, seeing them try things on their own for the first time. That sort of imagination and independence is worth encouraging. Before she was even two years old, my daughter loved to play dress up. Anything that was remotely wearable became a costume for her. As she grew, the costumes and worlds she built around them became more elaborate.

We’ve talked a great deal about the importance of pretend play and the benefits of many other kinds of open-ended activities. But, for this post, I wanted to focus on the significance of dress-up and how you don’t always need pre-packaged trunk sets to set your child’s imagination soaring!

Playroom Dress Up Storage

There’s a lot to consider when setting up a playroom for your toddler. First, of course, you want to ensure you have plenty of toy storage and that your growing tot will have the accessibility they need to get things for themselves. However, you also want to give yourself the peace of mind that the playroom is safe enough that you don’t need to monitor every second.

The days after a well-attended birthday party aside, everything should have its place—toys in the toy box and dress-up items in their storage trunk. Depending on the extent of your young one’s collection, this could be quite a task! We recommend setting up general areas for each item: jewelry goes in the jewelry box, hats and headbands go in the big wicker basket, props go in the plastic tub, complete outfits go on the hangers, etc. Children tend to be more general organizers, especially tiny ones, and giving them a few clearly defined places they can sort into may save you a few headaches. It will also make it easier for you to clean an area quickly in the event of unexpected company!

Beyond the Princess Dress-Up Trunk

While there’s certainly nothing wrong with an expensive, brand-new Disney Princess costume set or a deluxe Melissa & Doug Princess Costume, your little princess can often get as much out of a sibling’s hand-me-downs as they can from an Amazon Best Selling play set.

A child’s imagination is truly a wonderful thing. I’ve seen children turn a necklace and t-shirt into a Cinderella costume. Anything that is vaguely hoop-shaped can become a tiara for Tiana. If they haven’t been outgrown, little girl dresses can become a ballgown for Belle. If they HAVE been outgrown, they now become Aurora’s peasant dress. Headbands, purses, tutus, dress-up shoes, or even make-up with adult supervision, can turn your child into their version of Elsa, Ariel, Rapunzel, Moana, or even a princess of their own creation. However, it shouldn’t stop there.

Dress Up Isn’t Just for Little Girls

Playing dress-up is a form of imaginative role-play for all children that can help them work on their language skills, boost their problem-solving, and help develop fine motor skills as they figure out all the buttons, belts, and ties to wear their favorite Halloween costume from last year or create something new.

During dress-up play, children often imitate the world around them, trying to replicate it. Whether that’s something out of a fairy tale they’ve been listening to or an adult in their life they’ve been watching, it can be helpful to have a wide variety of items for them to work with.

Storage Options from fawn & forest

Organizing a nursery can be daunting, but fortunately, there are plenty of ways to keep your things organized without sacrificing style. Do not settle for a plain cardboard box or plastic storage bin when you need a storage solution for your little one’s collection of dress-up items. Instead, impart personality into your toddler’s room with modern nursery storage and organization baskets.

fawn&forest has a beautiful collection of nursery storage and organization baskets. We offer cute bins that match your nursery’s theme and neutral color options that can grow with your child.

Setting Up a Hands-On Nature Tray for Young Children

On your next nature walk, learn how to set up a nature tray. Learn the benefits of outdoor learning and hands-on sensory activities with natural objects. 

"In the meantime, relax. Take a break. Look at the clouds. Listen to the wind. Let the birds do the heavy lifting." ― Richard Louv

Most parents would agree that their children being able to explore the natural world around them is generally good. When they are outdoors, they are feeling the wind blowing, the grass beneath their feet, the earthy smells of fallen leaves, and the sounds of the critters going about their business. As a little one's caretaker, sharing these kinds of experiences is the stuff that makes lasting memories.

With that in mind, let's take a look and see how putting together a nature tray is a great way to bond with your child and nurture within them a love for the great outdoors.

What is a Nature Tray?

A nature tray is a hands-on sensory activity that gives young children a chance to explore the world around them with all of their senses. The basic idea of this DIY nature study is to take your child on a nature walk, gather a variety of natural objects, and then arrange them in a compartmentalized container, like a wood tray. At this point, you encourage them to experience the items' shapes, smells, colors, and textures. You may want a pair of safety scissors or an adult-run cutting tool if they have collected any plant materials that can be cut open for further examination and exploration.

Nature Walks and Outdoor Learning

We love leaving the classroom to go tromping around the woods with our children, exploring fields, and climbing trees. Along the way, children naturally gather things. Leaves are picked up, rocks and acorns find their way into pockets, and pinecones are carried in tiny hands. I can't recall a single nature walk I've ever taken with my kids where we didn't find at least one thing that must be taken home.

The advantage of having a classroom can come in eliminating distractions so that a student can focus on learning complicated arithmetic or memorizing the baffling spellings that have made their way into modern English. However, it's just as valuable to balance structured learning with a less-guided version of outdoor learning, where distraction is the main attraction!

Under normal circumstances, running ahead to pick a flower that caught their attention or collecting dead insects or animal casings might be discouraged. However, when a child has the freedom to truly explore, you never know what they can find. Oftentimes, they’ll even find something you never would have on your own. For example, I now know that it’s possible to find salamanders in my backyard!

It should be pointed out that materials for a DIY nature tray can be found in your yard, the park, the beach, the woods, or almost anywhere. However, if you truly don’t have easy access to somewhere natural (too cold and snowy to go outside, for example) there are plenty of ways to supplement your tray online through various teaching resources. While this can be a great way for anyone to get harder-to-find natural materials (not every yard will yield a snake’s shed skin), being outdoors and searching is still an important part of the experience for both you and your child.

A Scavenger Hunt and a Magnifying Glass

While collecting for a nature tray can be largely unstructured, your child may also benefit from guidance or a challenge. Arranging a nature activity like a scavenger hunt can be an excellent tool, especially if your tray is being prepared in a group setting. Specific goals can help guide the activity into nature and back to the home base, where all the gathered items can be sorted, compared, and examined.

When you reach this stage in the activity, it's often wise to have some form of magnification on hand. If your child or group is old enough (and the environment allows), a Jr. Microscope or even a hand-held microscope/light combination can show incredible details. However, if those items are unavailable or impractical given the age of the children, a simple magnifying glass can still offer a window into a different world.

Benefits of Sensory Trays

Whether you homeschool your kids, are looking for a new educational way to play with them on the weekends, or are looking for a gift idea for a grandchild, items to help them set up a nature table, sensory tray, or nature cutting tray can be a great option. Beyond the mindfulness of exploring their environment, the health benefits of running, walking, climbing, digging, fording streams, chasing dragonflies, and a million other discoveries are incalculable.

Outdoor learning, in general, has been shown to reduce stress, improve mood, boost concentration and increase a child's engagement. In addition, having the opportunity to interact in a hands-on way with their environment gives children the chance to work on many practical life skills, such as developing a sense of direction, being present, categorizing--the list goes on.

So get out there, bring your kids, and see what you can discover together!

Wooden Toys Over Plastic Toys for Motor Skills & More

Playtime is essential for your child's development, but choosing toys to surround your little one can be challenging. All too often, toys are made with cheap, breakable materials, and kiddos are more excited about the cardboard boxes they come in than the toy itself. 

Reminding us of the beauty in toys that endure years of love and creative play, wooden toys bring us all back to a sense of wonder, keep our kiddos safe, and support every moment of their growth. Explore why so many families love wooden toys and how you can add them to your child's playtime for more fun, imagination, and excitement.

6 Benefits of Wooden Toys

While Montessori schools have always emphasized wooden toys, more and more parents are starting to embrace them, as the benefits they bring long outlast the time your child will spend enjoying them. Wooden alternatives are a safe, all-natural, and family-friendly choice that lends you extra support for your little one's development:

So many toys are now made with dangerous or cheap materials, sharp pieces, or parts that can become choking hazards. Plastic toys, in particular, can contain harmful chemicals like phthalates, bisphenol A (BPA), or polyvinyl chloride (PVC). These and other chemicals are linked to human health disorders, and small children are even more sensitive to their toxicity. High-quality wooden toys come free from these toxins, making them the healthier choice.

Not only are wooden toys safer for your child - they're also safer for the environment! Wood is an eco-friendly option compared to its cheap, plastic counterpart that often ends up in landfills. By choosing a biodegradable wooden alternative, you can create less waste and do a little more to care for the earth.

When little ones play, it seems like broken toys are their end goal. Children aren't always gentle with their toys, making them become pieces that land in the trash after a single use, but wooden toys are better than plastic toys when it comes to longevity. Natural materials like wood can withstand time and the test of your tot's surprising strength.

It might seem like the flashy colors in some plastic toys are especially inspiring to kiddos, but wooden toys offer so much more for your child's imaginative play. Toys with bright colors, sounds, and intricate pieces may look exciting, but too much overstimulation for your little one and playtime becomes a nightmare. Classic wooden toys allow kids to explore creative play without boundaries, opening their blossoming brains to new adventures.

Although plastic options can be less expensive upfront, they soon become costly after repeated replacements. Good quality wooden toys last for years - even generations. I have some of my parent’s wooden building blocks stored away that still stand up to the test of time!

There are so many types of toys available in wood, from puzzles and building materials to real-life games and sets - it's no wonder Montessori toys are typically wooden. Wood toys can support a child's development better than the alternative, building on their gross and fine motor skills, problem-solving, and creative thinking. Adding simple wooden toys to your infant, toddler, or young child's playroom can encourage healthy brain development and social-emotional skills too.

Incorporating Wooden Toys in Play

One of the best parts about wooden toys is their use in open-ended play - just present your tot with a new toy, and they'll create things you could never imagine! That said, I like to have tons of different options so my kiddos can pick and choose depending on their mood. Here are some of my family's favorite types of wooden toys:

Play kitchens

Since the dawn of time, young children have loved to play chef. While I'm sure some kiddos will grow up to dread cooking dinner like many of us, a wooden kitchen set can make playtime more inspiring.

Blocks and building pieces

One of my children's most-used choices during playtime is their toy box filled with wooden blocks. A child's imagination can run wild, creating cityscapes, structures that tower over their heads, and so much more - all while building their hand-eye coordination.

Puzzles and games

Puzzles and games can support your child's development in more ways than one. Teaching cognitive thinking skills like pattern recognition, cause-and-effect, and problem-solving, wooden puzzles and games are a fun way to support healthy brain development.

Animals, trucks, and other figurines!

Cars, trains, zoo animals, dolls, you name it - there's a high-quality wooden option for all of your tot's favorite figurines. Plus, nothing quite beats wooden animals that don't make a peep other than out of your child's imagination! Your children will likely need no prompts to play, but I love this idea of adding wool-felt elements to give kiddos even more exciting, tactile materials to experience.

Heirloom Wooden Toys for Adventure and Imagination

Fostering opportunities for play is essential for your baby's growth - and their toys should entertain and inspire them even further. At fawn&forest, our toy collections are built on the knowledge that safety and quality come first for our little ones, and that play is a vital part of every day. Find thoughtfully-designed wooden toys made with sustainably-sourced, biodegradable materials that will bring your child years of play and creative adventures.